Meeting Alili Again

Chiba bought a deck of playing cards before he left.

His reason was that he was afraid fleeing would get too boring, and they could play cards or something when they rested.

He returned to Ultear and Wendy and told them about it. Ultear frowned deeply and said, "It should be Shadow Skull. They probably don't know my magic power has been sealed, so they sent mages from a legal guild to feel things out."

"Chiba, take Wendy and go. They're after me," Ultear said, looking at him.

Chiba shrugged. "And then you die?"

Before Ultear could speak, Chiba grinned. "Standing by and watching a friend die isn't my style. Besides, I hurt so many people from Frog in the Pond that they won't let me go either. And... Shadow Skull should have information on me too. I killed so many of them that they'd love to grind my bones to dust."

Ultear pondered for a moment. She was a decisive person, and since Chiba had said that, he was also finding reasons not to abandon her.

So she asked, "What do we do now?"

Chiba stretched. "Run, of course. We'll keep running until you get your magic power back."

"Hmph, once I get my magic power back, I'm going back to Grimoire Heart. What will you do then?" Ultear folded her arms across her chest and snorted.

Chiba grinned. "I have my own plans. Either way, I won't die."

"Going to find your girlfriend?" she suddenly asked on impulse.

Chiba's face turned red. "Bullshit! She's just an old friend."

Ultear said nothing more.

Little Wendy looked puzzled.

The atmosphere grew a little awkward.

So someone needed to break the awkwardness.

Like... the mages from Frog in the Pond.

A bunch of mages jumped out of the jungle.

"You're surrounded! Hurry up and..."

"Bang!"

Before their leader could finish, the Shadow Clone returning from scouting ahead kicked him to the ground.

"Huh? What the hell did I just kick?" The Shadow Clone looked utterly baffled.

"The enemy, dumbass. I'm out of here. Hold them off." Chiba picked up little Wendy, scooped up Ultear, and ran like mad.

"Damn it! That's not fair! You've got a beauty in your arms, and I've got..."

Just then, a mage brandishing a greatsword charged at the Shadow Clone, who grabbed him by the head with one hand.

The Shadow Clone said miserably, "I've got some grubby, foot-picking brute in my hand..."

But Chiba had already run far away.

"Take him out!" The mage the Shadow Clone had kicked away got to his feet, clutched his swollen face, and roared hysterically.

"Dance for me, all of you!"

With that, the Shadow Clone activated the first level of Heru and roared as he charged into the crowd, taking them down with one kick each.

"Phew~ We finally got away..."

Chiba wiped the sweat from his forehead and let out a breath.

"Brother Chiba, that other Brother Chiba just now... shouldn't we worry about him?" Wendy asked, a little worried. Her words were a little strange, but Chiba knew she meant the Shadow Clone.

"Don't worry about him. He's just my clone. If he gets destroyed, I can make another one. And... we're all the same person in mind." Chiba waved it off as no big deal.

"But... that Brother Chiba seemed different from the other Brother Chibas. He kept saying bad things about you the whole way..."

"Hmm... it's fine. Even if he says bad things about me, he's still my clone."

Chiba was used to it by now.

Ultear glanced at him. "I've come across magic that creates clones before, but I've never seen a clone curse the original like yours does. Do ninja clones all make snide remarks about their originals?"

"No... well... more or less. It's just that my Shadow Clones might... have a few problems..." Chiba mumbled vaguely.

"..."

They sat down on the grass to rest. Actually, it was Chiba who needed a break. After running all that way with two girls in his arms, he was exhausted.

Suddenly, Ultear's body trembled. The vigilance she had developed over many years made her let out a sharp cry. "Who's there?!"

Chiba and Wendy stared at her in surprise.

"Someone's coming," Ultear explained simply.

She stared intently at a patch of bushes, her eyes full of wariness.

Chiba followed her gaze.

"As expected of Miss Ultear. Even with your magic power sealed, your senses are still so sharp..."

A mocking voice rang out. Then the space around the bushes Ultear was watching suddenly distorted, and three figures in black robes emerged.

"Shadow Skull..." Ultear's gaze darkened.

"Heh heh... no need to rush. Once I've settled an old score, I'll send you to your death." The black-robed figure in the middle chuckled and turned toward Chiba beside Ultear.

Chiba frowned. He couldn't recall having any other entanglements with Shadow Skull.

"Heh heh... important people really are forgetful. It's only been a few months, and you've already forgotten my voice..." The black-robed figure shook his head with a smile, then pulled back his hood.

Chiba's pupils shrank sharply.

"Alili?!"

The black-robed man's face was deathly pale, yet it bore a sinister, vicious smile. Chiba knew that face so well, but the aura it carried was utterly unfamiliar to him.

"Boss... long time no see."

He grinned, fierce killing intent surging beneath his eyes.

Chiba's expression darkened somewhat. "You joined a dark guild?"

"Aren't you with a woman from a dark guild yourself, boss?" A mocking smile curled Alili's lips. "What happened to Miss Mira? Did you abandon her, or did this woman kill her?"

Chiba remained silent.

Ultear frowned and asked, "Who is he?"

"A former friend," Chiba answered.

"Friend?" Alili sneered. "I can barely wait to kill you, Chiba Uchiha. Besides, did you ever see me as a friend? I was probably just a dog in your eyes, wasn't I?"

Chiba didn't want to argue with him about it. Instead, he said coldly, "When did you join the dark guild?"

"That's none of your business. Right now... I just want you dead!"

Alili roared and charged straight at Chiba, a torrent of black magic power gathering in the hand beneath his robe.

"Bang!"

Chiba raised his right hand and blocked the attack. But a vicious smile appeared on Alili's lips.

The dark magic power on his arm rapidly spread toward Chiba's arm the moment it touched him.

Chiba's gaze sharpened, and Chakra swiftly enveloped his entire body. Then he blocked with his palm and sent Alili flying.

But Alili was still smiling as he said, almost hysterically, "Well, Chiba?! What do you think of my power?"

Chiba's expression darkened somewhat. He could sense from Alili's magic power that it was no weaker than that of the A-Class mage who had fought Frog in the Pond earlier. Its power was even a little greater.

When had Alili gained such terrifying strength?